Gabriel and Martinelli Set for Arsenal Return Against Real Betis

Arsenal’s pre-season is about to feel a little more like the real thing.

After extended post-World Cup breaks, Brazilian pair Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli are in line to make their first appearances of the summer when the Gunners face Real Betis at the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday night.

Both defenders and forwards were granted extra time off after helping Brazil reach the last 16, which ruled them out of the behind-closed-doors win over MK Dons on July 25. They rejoined the squad in Spain ahead of the friendly against Girona, trained with the group, then watched from the sidelines as Mikel Arteta left them out of the matchday squad entirely.

That caution should now give way to minutes.

With a handful of sessions banked and the tour moving up a gear, the expectation inside the camp is that both Gabriels will feature in Dublin as Arsenal sharpen their fitness and rhythm.

Arteta’s managed minutes

Arteta’s approach to pre-season has been clear: build rhythm, avoid risk.

Against Girona, he treated Piero Hincapie, Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres with kid gloves, withdrawing all three after just 30 minutes. The pattern is likely to repeat with Gabriel and Martinelli against Betis – a taste of action, not the full dose, as the coaching staff guard against early setbacks.

Ben White is another case study in caution. The defender successfully negotiated 60 minutes on his return from a knee injury, his first outing in three months. He came through unscathed, but that very fact may see him protected in Dublin, with the staff reluctant to push him too hard, too soon.

If White is held back, youngster Marli Salmon stands ready at right-back. With Jurrien Timber doubtful, the academy product could find himself thrust into another valuable audition on a big stage.

Midfield chances for the next wave

The international hangover still shapes Arteta’s midfield options.

Captain Martin Odegaard is due back at London Colney this week after his post-World Cup holiday, but a lack of training time means Betis should come too soon for him. That opens the door once more for Ethan Nwaneri to step into the spotlight.

Nwaneri impressed in the 4-1 win over Girona and should get another chance to run the game from midfield. Around him, the picture is shaped by absences as much as availability. Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino all remain on their breaks, while Newcastle have already rejected a bid from Arsenal for Bruno Guimaraes, leaving Arteta to lean on youth and versatility for now.

Havertz is expected to drop into the engine room again, with Myles Lewis-Skelly alongside him. It is an experimental blend, but these are the weeks when Arteta likes to test combinations, and the youngsters have responded with energy and conviction.

Martinelli to reclaim his flank

Further forward, the left wing is about to feel familiar again.

Max Dowman and summer signing Christos Tzolis both found the net in the 4-1 victory over Girona, underlining the depth of attacking options bubbling beneath the surface. Yet as pre-season edges closer to the serious business, hierarchy starts to reassert itself.

Martinelli, back in full training and eager for minutes, is expected to reclaim his favoured berth on the left. That likely means Tzolis stepping aside, at least from the start, as the Brazilian sharpens up in his natural role and reconnects with the patterns that made him such a relentless threat last season.

The pieces are moving, the senior core is returning, and the youngsters have already made their case. Betis in Dublin is still only pre-season, but with Gabriel and Martinelli back on the pitch, Arsenal’s preparations will begin to look a lot more like the team Arteta intends to unleash when the real campaign begins.